First Person Arts 16th StorySlam Season Continues Through Spring

In Philadelphia, First Person Arts provides a stage for anyone and everyone to tell his or her tale, with the ultimate mission of supporting memoir and documentary art in this city.

On a biweekly basis, First Person’s StorySlam series celebrates the art of storytelling and offers up the opportunity to participate in an open-to-all storytelling competition.

Taking place on the second Monday of each month at World Cafe Live and the fourth Tuesday of each month at L’Etage, there are plenty of chances to catch a slam this winter.

Each StorySlam revolves around a new topic, and this season — the 16th First Person Arts StorySlam season — audience members recount their tales on such subjects as “Hooked” (January 26) “Desire” (February 23), “Missed Connections” (April 11), and something that “Rhymes with Luck” (March 22).

Competitors are drawn right from the shows’ audiences. To participate, enter into that evening’s drawing by leaving your name at the door. Ten storytellers are picked at random, and each contestant has five minutes that night to tell a story.

The judges, by the way, are audience members who score performances on a ten-point scale. The highest-scoring participant of the night wins $100 and an invitation to take part in First Person Arts’ annual Grand Slam in May.

In what promises to be a hilarious night of self-deprecating humor, the annual anti-Valentine’s Day storytelling competition asks audience members to share real-life tales of breakups, heartaches and heartbreaks.

To check out what’s in store (or size up the potential competition), check out videos of past StorySlams for free right here.

So, what’s your story?

First Person Arts StorySlams

When:The second Monday of the month at World Cafe Live; the fourth Tuesday of the month at L’Etage; 7:30 p.m., doors; 8:30 p.m., show